Booking choice: The three-waterfall day, from $53 per person. Check dates Tour details
Bali's rainy season runs from November to March, and the waterfalls south and east of Ubud feel it first. Rain falls on the slopes upstream, the rivers rise within hours, and the staff at each site decide whether anyone goes near the water.
Here is what that means at the four falls the tours on this site visit: Tegenungan, Tukad Cepung, Tibumana and Kanto Lampo.
The quick answer
Expect the wet season from November to March, with December to February the wettest. At Tegenungan the pool often closes and the water turns brown; Tukad Cepung shuts completely when its gorge floods. Start early, before the afternoon storms, keep a spare day, and use the free cancellation up to 24 hours before if the forecast turns.
When is the 2026-27 rainy season in Bali?
November to March, heaviest from December to February. Rain often comes in short, hard bursts in the early morning and late afternoon.
The calendar is a guide, not a promise. The UN's weather agency has high confidence in an El Niño this year, which tends to dry Indonesia out. Don't read too much into that. September 2025, well outside the wet months, brought the worst flooding Bali had seen in more than 70 years. The Bali office of BMKG, the national weather agency, posts daily forecasts and warnings in English on Instagram. Check it the evening before.
For waterfalls, what matters is rain upstream in the previous 24 hours, not whether it is raining where you stand.
| Months | Tegenungan | Tukad Cepung | Our take |
|---|---|---|---|
| April to October | Clearer water, best odds of a swim | Open; light rays on sunny mornings | Easy waterfall season |
| November | Pool closures start after rain | Usually open | Fine with early starts |
| December to February | Brown water, frequent closures | Shuts when the gorge floods | Keep a spare day |
| March | Closures less frequent | Mostly open | Falls still powerful |
Can you swim at Tegenungan in the rainy season?
Often not. Staff close the pool when the current rises, which happens often from November to March, and the water runs brown after rain upstream.
Swimming at Tegenungan was never a sure thing. It is allowed only in the marked area of the plunge pool, only when staff open it, and never under the falls. In the wet months, assume the pool is closed and treat a swim as a bonus. The falls themselves are at their loudest and widest, which is the upside.
The other problem is the staircase: about 170 to 200 concrete steps, mossy and slick after rain, and a sweaty climb back up. Wear sandals with grip, not flip-flops. Our guide to swimming at Tegenungan has the rules.
Is Tukad Cepung open in the rainy season?
Not always. The canyon has one way in and out, and the site closes when the river floods, most often from December to February.
Tukad Cepung is a cave-like gorge where the water drops through a slot in the rock. Rain upstream raises it fast, and with one entry point there is no escape route. If the water is brown or rising, leave. One guest on the three-waterfall day wrote that the group skipped it for safety, with slippery rocks underfoot. Good call.
The famous light shafts need direct sun, roughly 9 to 11 am. A grey morning means no beams, so on an overcast day the visit loses most of its point. Entry is IDR 30,000, cash, and the stairs take about 20 minutes.
Tukad Cepung, Tibumana and Tegenungan in one private day, with every gate fee and lunch paid.
Check dates for the three-waterfall dayAre Tibumana and Kanto Lampo safe after rain?
They stay open more often, but both get muddier and stronger. Tibumana's pool is swimmable on calm days; Kanto Lampo is a wade-and-climb spot, not a swim.
Tibumana is a tall single drop into a cold pool, reached in about 12 minutes on stairs, dirt paths and bamboo bridges. After rain the path turns to mud and the fall gets heavier. Kanto Lampo is a short 5 to 7-minute staircase to stepped black rock; people climb the steps for photos, and after rain that rock is slippery and the current stronger.
| Waterfall | Entry (2026) | Walk down | After heavy rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tegenungan | IDR 30,000 | 170 to 200 steps | Pool often closed, brown water |
| Tukad Cepung | IDR 30,000 | About 20 min of steep stairs | Closes when the gorge floods |
| Tibumana | IDR 25,000 | About 12 min | Muddy path, stay out of the current |
| Kanto Lampo | IDR 25,000 | 5 to 7 min | Murky water, slick rock steps |
All four falls in one private day for a basic tour price: pick the Inclusive option and the gates are paid.
Explore the four-waterfall day Tour detailsHow do you plan a waterfall day between November and March?
Start early, put the most fragile stop first, and book with free cancellation so you can move the day if the forecast turns.
- Leave by 7 or 8 am. Storms build in the afternoon, and Tegenungan is quietest before 9 am.
- Tukad Cepung first on a sunny morning; skip it on a grey one.
- Keep a spare day. Every tour on this site cancels for a full refund up to 24 hours before. Check BMKG's forecast the evening before and decide then.
- Have a plan B. The private Ubud tour mixes Tegenungan with the Monkey Forest, Tegallalang and Tirta Empul, so one closure does not sink the day.
- Double the drive times. Flooded roads and roadworks slow everything down in the wet months.
What should you wear on a rainy-season waterfall tour?
Swimwear under quick-dry clothes, sandals with grip, a cheap poncho and a dry bag for the phone.
You will get wet from spray even if the pool is closed. Pack a towel and a dry shirt for the car, and a sarong if the day includes temples. Leave white clothes at home; brown river water stains. More in what to wear on an Ubud waterfall tour.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth visiting Tegenungan in the rainy season?
Yes, for the view: the falls are bigger and louder. Do not count on a swim, though, since the staff often close the pool from November to March.
Do waterfall tours run when it rains?
Yes, tours run in the rain. A site that is closed on the day stays closed, so ask your driver what replaces it, and go early to beat the afternoon storms.
When does Tukad Cepung close?
Whenever the river floods the gorge, most often from December to February. Brown or rising water means the visit is off.
Can I cancel a waterfall tour if the forecast is bad?
Yes, for a full refund up to 24 hours before on every tour on this site. Inside 24 hours the booking is no longer refundable.
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Choose your tour
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Bali Waterfalls: Tibumana, Tukad Cepung & Tegenungan
- Private air-conditioned minivan
- All entry fees and taxes
- Lunch and bottled water
Four Waterfalls: Tegenungan to Tibumana
Four waterfalls for the price of a basic Ubud tour. Bring your legs.
Ubud Private Tour: Rice Terraces, Temples & Waterfalls
- Private car and driver-guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Entry fees, lunch and swing (All-Inclusive option)
